Books: Confess, Fletch by Gregory McDonald (1976)

While this is the second book written about I. M. "Fletch" Fletcher, from a chronology standpoint, this is book 6. So the events in this tale take place after Fletch (1974), but this is not a direct sequel, just an episodic tale. As noted last my last review, McDonald intended Carioca Fletch (1984) to follow the first book, but held off until he spent some time in Brazil to get the feel of the country and its legendary Carnival (though I’m sure he didn’t think it would take 10 years to do that). There is no mention of Fletch’s Brazilian adventure here, beyond him mentioning he’s lived in Brazil and other locations for the last 18 months or so, but he’s now settled in as an art critic, living in Cagna, Italy and engaged to be married (again). By the way, at the end of Carioca Fletch, the reader sees our intrepid former reporter heading off to Italy (he had stolen dome $3 million dollars from the first adventure). Anyway, his fiancée is the daughter of an Italian Count who has been kidnapped and murdered recently. Fletch is dispatched to by her to Boston to recover painting which were stolen from the family a number of years ago. Upon arriving in Boston he discovers a naked female dead in the apartment he is borrowing. With police on his back hounding him to confess, Fletch must discover the real murderer while trying to locate his fiancé’s family’s painting. Compounding matters is the fact that the inspector assigned to the murder, Francis Xavier Flynn, is Fletch’s intellectual equal.

In some ways, Confess, Fletch is a better book (which won McDonald his second Edgar Award), more clever and more complex tale. Yes, it’s still somewhat funny, snarky, and has a wicked dry wit to it, but overall, a more serious mystery (very Donald E. Westlake execution, as well, with equal doses of Dortmunder and Parker within these pages) with lighthearted undertones. Flynn is a great character and the interplay between Fletch and him is the best part of the book –which is probably why McDonald spun Flynn off (though I hear the first two are the best, with three –and especially- four showing how McDonald became more conservative as he aged). I can now see, as well, why these books have some detractors. The latter books (especially the prequels) really changed and altered the circumstances of Fletch  -he is living the high life on that stolen money from the first book. I can see now why McDonald went back to writing about poor Fletch in the three prequels and the original title. He found that character more fun to write. It’s an easy read, with fun characters, a well-developed mystery, and witty lines.